Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-09-17

let the letter fall over the veranda, to Ufre OF
the posts of which she clung with both her
hands
The i'll favored native below grinled, and,
picking the paper up, handed it to her
She took it. feeling that she must know all,
and read on like one reads in some CHASTITY
dream
"who has been staying on your uncle's farm
did not see him killed myself, but Jan Van
zyl shot him, and Roi Dirk Oosthuizen and
Carolus, Hottentot, saw them pick him up
and carry him away They say that he was
quite dead. For this | fear you viii be sorry,
but it is the chance of war, and he died fight
ing bravey. Make my obedient compliments
to your uncle. We parted in anger, but l
hope in the new circumstances that have
arisen in the land to show him that l, for
one, bear no anger. Believe me, dear Miss
Bessie your humble and devoted servant,
"FRANK MULLER"
Bessie thrust the letter into the pocket of her
dress and then again caught hold of the ver-
anda post and supported herself by it, while the
light of the sun seemed to visibly fade out of
the day before her eyes and replace itself by
a cold blackness in which there was no break.
He was dead-her lover was dead The glow
had gone from her life as it seemed to be
going from the day, and she was left desolate
She had no knowledge of how long she stood
thus, staring with wide eyes at the sunshine
she could not see. She had lost her count of
time; all things were phantasmagorical and
unreal; all that she could realize was this one
overpowering, crushing fact-John was dead !
"Missie," said the ill favored messenger be-
low, fixing his one eye upon her poor sorrow
stricken face and yawning.
There was no answer.
"Missie,r he said again, sis there any an
swer. l must be going. | want TO get back
i'll time to see the Beers take Pretoria"
Bessie looked al him vaguely. "Yours is a
message that needs no answer" she said.
"What is, is"
The brute laughed. "No, l can't take a
letter to the captain" he said; ~ saw Jan
Vanzyl shoot him. He fell So" and he sud-
denly collapsed all in heap on the path, in
imitation of man struck dead by a bullet
Il can't take him a message, missile" he went
on, rising, "but one day you will be able to
go and look for him yourself. did not mean
that; what meant was that could take a
letter to Frank Muller. A live Boer is better
than dead Englishman; and Frank Muller
will make fine husband for any girl. If you
shut your eyes you won't know the differ
ence"
"Go!" said Bessie, in a choked voice, and
pointing her hand toward the avenue.
Bessie vacantly watched him go. Then, as
though struck by a thought, she turned and
went into the sitting room.
"What is all this about, Bessie" said her
uncle, following her "What does that man
mean about Frank MullerP
at means. uncle dear" she said at last, in
ii voice that was something between a sob and
a laugh, "that l am a widow before l am
married. John is dead!"
"Dead! dead!' said the old man, putting his
hand to his forehead and turning round in a
dazed sort of fGshion-"John dead'
Read the letter." said Bessie, handing him
Frank Muler's missive.
The old man took it and read it, His hand
shook so much that it took him a long while
to come to the end of it.
"Good God" he said at last, "what n blow
My poor Bessie" and he took her into his arms
and kissed her. Suddenly a thought struck
him perhaps it is all one Of Frank Muller'S
lies he said, "or perhaps he made mistake.
But Bessie made no answer. For the time
at any rate, hope had left her.